Science teacher Todd Stehle hit the nail on the head with his Bright Ideas grant project – using solar panels and associated equipment so his 8th grade students at Newport Middle School can learn more about electricity, renewable energy and associated concepts.

John Scarfpin, technology instructor at Havelock High School, has been selected by CCEC as this year’s Tar Heel Teacher of Week for his outstanding Bright Ideas project and his dedication to the classroom.

“Scarfpin goes the extra mile for his students,” said CCEC Communications Director Lisa Galizia. “Today, textbook materials are often outdated before they are published. But that doesn’t stop this educator. He is constantly looking for the most up-to-date information and creating his own content for his students.”

Carteret-Craven Electric Coo-op awarded a $100 VISA gift card to East Carteret High School’s Kate Jayne, who was one of 467 educators across the state to submit their Bright Ideas grant applications by the ‘early bird’ deadline.

Co-op members Paul and Jessica Zado will be hitting the road in their new campey, taking along a Lodge Manufacturing cast iron cookware package they won by entering a sweepstakes in June’s issue of Carolina Country magazine.

The biggest way to reduce energy use and costs during a summer heat wave is to raise the thermostat for your air conditioning. You need to find the highest setting that is mostly comfortable for you; it might be 80 degrees for one person and 82 degrees for another.

In extreme heat, if your setting is too low, your air conditioning unit will never reach the desired temperature, but it will keep running, and your electric meter will keep spinning.

Nudge the setting up and try these additional measures to stay cool and not get burned by high summer electric bills.

Touchstone Energy® Cooperatives is a national network of electric cooperatives across 46 states that provides resources and leverages partnerships to help member cooperatives and their employees better engage and serve their members. By working together, Touchstone Energy cooperatives stand as a source of power and information to their 32 million member-owners every day.